Pros:
- Battery can be used with other tools
- Very lightweight
- Durable motor
- No maintenance
Cons:
- Loud
- Limited runtime
The Greenworks 80V backpack blower was my introduction to backpack leaf blowers. To date, it is still the best battery-powered backpack blower that I have used. The blower boasts 610 cfm and up to 180 mph, making it more powerful than several gas-powered backpack blowers on the market. One thing I love about having this 80V backpack blower is that I can use the same 80V Greenworks battery system across dozens of their tools.
My favorite part about this blower is using it to blow leaves. It can run on high for about 15 minutes, which is generally all most homeowners will need. It is extremely lightweight, at about 8 pounds, without a battery, making it hardly noticeable to carry around. The backpack blower also has minimal vibration, given the lack of a gas engine or many of the other components found in a gas blower.
What to Look for When Buying a Backpack Leaf Blower
Before purchasing a backpack leaf blower, thoroughly evaluate your decision with a few key decision points. Here are mine:
- Power source: Gas has always been the dominant type of backpack leaf blower, but electric has made significant strides. If you are okay with less power but no maintenance, a quieter experience, and not smelling like gas, then an electric leaf blower may be the best option.
- Weight: Backpack blowers can get heavy and strain your back. Don’t buy more power than you need to keep it as light as possible.
- Yard size: I wouldn’t buy a backpack blower unless I had a yard larger than ¼ of an acre or had significant annual leaf accumulation.
- Maintenance schedule: Look at the yearly maintenance schedule on the blower. Some leaf blowers have intense maintenance schedules, whereas others have fewer requirements when it comes to maintenance.
Why You Should Trust Us
We have personally tested dozens, if not hundreds, of leaf blowers, including backpack blowers, corded electric blowers, cordless blowers, and gas-powered handheld blowers. Basically, if it pushes out air, we have used it and put it to the test. Even my wife’s hair dryer has been put to the test.
As a former landscaper, I developed a unique love for lawn tools after using them every day for years. With my deep love for lawn tools, I became an absolute leaf-blower snob. Now, we spend our days testing lawn mowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers and more. Much of our time is spent using new blowers and comparing them to see which one reigns supreme.
Sound like a crazy job? It is.
How We Found the Best Backpack Leaf Blowers
I found the best backpack leaf blowers by testing each one in my yard over the course of a decade. Every blower on our list has been personally tested by me in my backyard. I have also included many of these blowers in head-to-head tests on my YouTube channel, where I have these two face off against each other, handheld blowers, and even smaller electric backpack blowers.
For backpack blowers, I use a testing methodology focused on how many leaves can be moved across my lawn. I start with a pile of leaves and debris in one pile and see how long it takes to get every leaf to the other side. That helps me complete a consistent and repeatable task with each backpack blower.
One of the more eccentric ways I have tested leaf blower power is by strapping them in opposite directions on a spinning office chair and seeing which one would spin the chair—a proxy for which has more power. It got a little wild and a lot more dangerous.
But these are the lengths I am willing to go so that you can buy a better leaf blower.
FAQ
What is a good cfm and mph for a backpack leaf blower?
A good cfm for a backpack blower is over 500 cfm, and a nice mph to blast away leaves is over 150 mph.
Are backpack leaf blowers worth it?
If you have a large yard or many leaves—a backpack leaf blower is an excellent investment.
What is the most powerful backpack blower?
The Stihl BR600 Magnum is one of the most powerful backpack blowers on the market.
